Alternatives to Silas

Saul

Hebrew

"prayed for"

Jewish parents in particular may be drawn to this quiet, composed name of the first king of Israel and the name of Saint Paul before his conversion. In modern times, it has been associated with Nobel…

Salem

Biblical place-name or Arabic

"safe"

Salem is a Biblical place name in Canaan, believed to be the same as Jerusalem, as well as the Massachusetts town famous for its late 17th century witch trials. Salem is also a popular first name in…

Forest

French occupational name

"woodsman or woods"

The Forest variation of Forrest, used by actor Whitaker, nudges the meaning more toward the woods and away from the woodsman.

Hollis

English

"near the holly bushes"

Hollis is a rugged, gentle and quietly used name, given to over 200 boys and 150 girls each year in the US. In 2023, it became one of the newest entries to the US Top 1000, where it fits in with the…

Abrus

Plant name from Greek

"rosary pea"

Albus

Latin

"white, bright."

The ancient name Albus has modern currency as the first name of the headmaster of Harry Potter 's Hogwarts, more formally known as Professor Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore. Can Albus work if…

Clovis

Teutonic, French, early form of Ludwig or Louis

An aromatic, unconventional name.

Collins

Surname derived from Nicholas or Colin, Greek or Irish and Scottish

"people of victory or pup"

Though Collins makes the Top 300 for girls, it sounds strong and handsome for boys too, kind of like the newly-stylish Brooks. The final s updates it from the 80s-ish Colin or the Twilightish Cullen.…

Cylas

Cylas is a modern masculine variation of the ancient Greek name Silas, which means 'forest' or 'woodland.' The distinctive spelling with 'C' instead of 'S' emerged in recent decades as parents sought…

Cylus

Cylus is a modern masculine name with uncertain etymology, though it may be a variant spelling of 'Silas' or derived from the Greek element 'kylos' relating to circular motion. The name has a…

Giles

Greek

"young goat"

One of those names that most Americans find just too too tea-sippingly British to consider; its meaning has led to occasional use for Capricorn boys.

Ilias

Greek, from Hebrew

"Yahweh is God"

The Greek form of Elijah.

Julias

Julias is a masculine name that appears to be a variant spelling of Julius or possibly Julian. With Roman and Latin origins, the traditional Julius derives from the ancient Roman family name…

Laurence

English from Latin

"from Laurentum or bay laurel"

Lawrence is the dominant spelling in the US, but in the UK Laurence and Lawrence are given in almost equal numbers each year, often with the adorable nickname Laurie or Lawrie. British actor Sir…

Lauris

Lauris is a masculine name with Baltic and Latin roots. In Latvia and Lithuania, it's a traditional male name derived from the Latvian word "lauris" meaning "crowned with laurel" or simply "laurel."…

Linus

Greek

"flax"

Can Linus lose its metaphorical security blanket and move from the Peanuts page onto the birth certificate? We think it has enough charm and other positive elements going for it for the answer to be…

Lumis

English surname

"from the place by the pool"

Also spelt Loomis, this locational English surname comes from Lomax (Lumhalghs), near Bury in Lancashire. Beyoncé's maternal grandfather, Lumis Albert Beyincé, is a notable bearer of the name.

Niles

Scandinavian

"son of Neil"

Perfect name for TV Frasier's effete brother. In the 2020 film Palm Springs , Andy Samberg plays a character with the updated spelling Nyles.

Nyles

Spelling variation of Niles

As Miles begat Myles, so Niles has begotten Nyles, with the name of the effete brother played by David Hyde Pierce on Frasier morphing into Andy Samberg's cool guy lead character in Palm Springs .…

Phinneas

Phinneas is a masculine name with Hebrew origins, serving as a variant spelling of Phineas or Phinehas. The biblical Phinehas was the grandson of Aaron and known for his zealousness. The name is…